Gerald Gardner Talk and Music with Philip Heselton and Damh the Bard

Update 10th June 2014: All Tickets Sold Out
After the unveiling of the blue plaque for Gerald Gardner we move to a new location for the evening.

We will have Damh the Bard playing some tunes for us and Philip Heselton who is an author and expert on Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, the history of Wicca, and modern Witchcraft. giving a talk about Gerald Gardner when he was living at Highcliffe.

With music to fill your heart and an amazing talk that will teach you more about Gerald Gardner it is a must go after the glorious afternoon that we have planned for you.
Have questions about Unveiling of Gerald Gardner Blue Plaque - Evening Talk and Entertainment? Contact Doreen Valiente Foundation and Centre for Pagan Studies.
£5:00 per ticket to cover room hire Tickets from Eventbrite http://www.eventbrite.com/e/unveiling-of-gerald-gardner-blue-plaque-evening-talk-and-entertainment-tickets-11619286599

The evening at the castle will start at 6  PM PROMPT so do not be late because tunes will be played by Damh the Bard. After the music a talk by Philip Heselton, author and expert on Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and the history of Wicca, modern Witchcraft. THIS EVENING EVENT CLOSE AT 8 PM

Gerald Gardner Commemorative Plaque Unveiling

Historic Occasion:
Come and witness another great moment for the pagan community achieved by Doreen the Valiente Foundation and Centre for Pagan Studies and organised in collaboration with Children of Artemis. There will be the unveiling of a commemorative blue plaque for Gerald Gardner at his former home in Highcliffe. Updated on 23 May 2014 with details of timings etc.

• 2 PM MEET AND GREET We will meet at the Clifftop Car Park, locally known as the Crow’s Nest, off Wharncliffe Road, by the Cliff Hanger Cafe. This will be where our journey begins.

• 4 PM UNVEILING After we have gathered we will walk via the Mill House where he was initiated, you will have a clear view over the Mill as we pass it on the path. Then we will continue towards the house where Gerald Gardner lived for the unveiling of the blue plaque.

• 4:30 PM REFRESHMENTS After the unveiling of the plaque for Gerald Gardner you will have time to have a look around the area and buy some refreshments and sample the so special Gerald Gardner cupcakes that will be made specially for the day. Food vendors will be ready outside the house for the gathered crowd.

• 6:00 PM PROMPT MUSIC AND TALK We will move to Highcliffe Castle for the evening. The evening a the castle will start at 6PM so do not be late because tunes will be played by Damh the Bard. After the music a talk by Philip Heselton, author and expert on Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and the history of Wicca, modern Witchcraft. EVENING EVENT CLOSE AT 8 PM

The event during the day is entirely free and is funded by donations to the  Doreen Valiente Foundation , and tickets for the evening cost £5 to cover the cost of the venue. This promises to be a great way to complete a perfect day.  With music to fill your heart and an amazing talk, that will teach you more about Gerald Gardner. The evening at the castle is a must after the glorious afternoon that we have planned for you.
To book your evening ticket just follow the link: www.geraldgardnerblueplaque.eventbrite.com
http://www.doreenvaliente.org/Doreen-Valiente-Blue_Plaques-7.php#sthash.Uod9KYZI.dpbs

A Day for Patricia Crowther 2014

Continuing our series of “A Day For . . ” events in 2014 we honoured the achievements and contribution to the Witchcraft and Pagan community of Patricia Crowther. Patricia is one of the few remaining contemporaries of Gerald Gardner and has to be considered one of the true Elders of the Craft and we persuaded her that the Craft and pagan communities deserved a chance to pay her their respects and celebrate her so we were delighted that she was our guest of honour on the day.

click here speakers biogs and talk info

 

A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who played a part in what proved to be a magnificent occasion!
You can contact us with any queries or suggestions on:  events@centre-for-pagan-studies.com

- See more at: A Day For Patricia Crowther

The Charge of the Goddess Expanded Edition

The Charge Of The Goddess (Expanded Edition) - Doreen Valiente (paperback book) £9.99 from our shop

Doreen Valiente, hailed as the "Mother of Modern Witchcraft", is one of the most influential figures in 20th century contemporary religion and spirituality. A prolific poet throught her life, her most famous and many previously unknown poems are published here in this special posthumous volume named after her best known work: The Charge Of The Goddess. This 2014 expanded edition features over 80 poems including all of the poems from the previous book of the same title plus many more previously unpublished poems.
Whilst the book will appeal to those interested in Doreen's spiritual and religious themes, the poetry embraces diverse and broader themes from seasonal insights to humorous re-tellings  which the custodians of her legacy are proud to present here along with  some of her better known pieces such as “The Witches Chant” and “The Charge Of The Goddess”.
 Please click the link to purchase.

http://www.shop.doreenvaliente.org/charge-of-the-goddess-expanded-edition

Press Release

On Friday 21^st June 2013, Brighton will host a historic event as a Blue Plaque is unveiled to commemorate ‘the mother of modern witchcraft’, Doreen Valiente.

Valiente (1922-1999) was a writer and poet, but better known for her contributions to modern Paganism - widely accepted as being key to the growth of the movement worldwide. Much of her work was done in a modest flat in Tyson Place, where she lived for over thirty years until her death in 1999.

This is the first time such a plaque has ever been awarded to a Pagan for service to their beliefs.

At midday on the Summer Solstice, supporters and guests will meet at Brighton’s Old Steine for an open ritual celebrating both the solstice and the life of Valiente. The Pentacle Drummers will then lead a procession to Tyson Place, where there will be live music from Beck Sian and Paul Mitchell, and dancing by the Hunter’s Moon Morris and Nina McGhee.

At 2.30pm the plaque will be unveiled by a special guest, and more music and dance will follow. Later, participants may proceed to the Green Door Store, where Greenmantle, a Brighton-based Pagan magazine, will host a ticketed (£5.00) event to celebrate both the plaque and its own 20^th anniversary. Music will be provided by singer-songwriters Talis Kimberley and Matthew Callow, .

The Doreen Valiente Foundation, a charitable organisation, has arranged for the plaque and celebration in collaboration with Brighton & Hove City Council and the residents of Tyson Place. The Foundation represents the aim of John Belham-Payne, to whom Valiente bequeathed her writings and extensive collection of Pagan artefacts and tools, to celebrate her life and create a lasting legacy to her work. The second part of this legacy is planned to be the opening of a museum, together with BHCC, to display her fascinating collection and to house the Centre for Pagan Studies, a unique centre for education in the fields of Witchcraft and Paganism.

For further details contact:

foundation@doreenvaliente.org (The Doreen Valiente Foundation)

uther8@hotmail.com (Greenmantle Editor)
Websites: - 
Doreen Valiente Foundation     http://doreenvaliente.org
Greenmantle                            http://www.greenmantle.org.uk/ 
Centre For Pagan Studies       http://centre-for-pagan-studies.com

We are very pleased to announce that our trustees have been hard at work researching the archives of Doreen's written material to collect together her poetry. The first printing of "Charge Of The Goddess" contained a selection of her poems we have attempted to do a thorough job of researching the material and have been astonished at her prolific output of poems. A new extended edition will be published in mid 2013 which will contain twice as many poems as the first, lots of previously unpublished material, some new images and several of Doreen's short stories. Watch this space for more news as we have it . . .

Midsummers Day Event in Brighton 2013

Midsummer 2013 is going to be quite a day in Brighton United Kingdom. We have organised a day's programme packed with activity, of course including the special event unveiling of the commemorative plaque to Doreen Valiente. All of this is free all you have to do is get to Brighton for the Merry Meet at 12 midday. All the information is on the map below and you can download the flyer for the event too. In the evening we are helping to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Greenmantle Magazine, in Brighton which will start at around 7pm. Tickets are 5 Pounds each and they are limited to 200. To ensure your place please purchase them from the Greenmantle website which is http://greenmantle.org.uk Please download the flyer for the day here